Physicians utilize homocysteine levels to help evaluate the health status of blood vessels. When your homocysteine level is less than 6, your blood vessels are healthier and your risk of excessive blood clotting (thrombosis) in the brain (stroke) or heart (coronary occlusion, blocked heart artery) or major blood vessel (arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis) is lower.

Homocysteine levels also tell if you have enough of certain nutrients such as vitamins B-12 and B-6 or folate that activate body catalysts (enzymes) and are essential for repairing blood vessels. Vitamin B-12 is naturally found in animal foods including fish, milk and milk products, eggs, meat, and poultry. Fortified breakfast cereals are an excellent source of vitamin B-12 and a particularly valuable source for vegetarians. Diet, alone, does not provide enough B-12, B-6, and folate for most people, as reflected in their elevated homocysteine levels. A deficiency of these nutrients increases your homocysteine level, escalating your risk for heart disease and stroke. Evidence suggests that high levels of homocysteine may actually damage coronary (heart) or cerebral (brain) blood vessels.

What about measuring B-12 levels? The standard (Schilling) B-12 test measures the amount of B-12 in the serum. This does not correlate well with the functional amount in your cells. Homocysteine levels are more functionally predictive of nutrient status and need.

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